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Regarding time and money a good strategy was to start with one platform. For example, in the beginning, Instagram was only available to Apple users. The app tried to experiment with feature-set, designs, and even concept, but the product was completely ready and had positive feedback based on thousands of downloads, then its team decided to convert the iOS app to Android.
Is it hard to port an app? And what should you start with?
At the beginning, you should understand the key platform differences as well as differentiate business logic from coding aspects for each platform.
There are 4 sub-steps in an app conversion:
- Review the app requirements and functionality
- Adjust the app design to meet the standards of the platform
- Tailor coding and architecture components for a new platform
- Provide proper app testing and app store launch
Why Convert Android App to iOS?
First of all your porting decision must be based on:
1- Positive current app indicators & metrics
If you decide to expand to another platform it should be based on some countable metrics (1k downloads, 1k active users, etc.)
2- Existing market
There is no point of porting an app, if 95% of your target audience, according to geolocation, is using one particular platform. Conduct market research if there is a demand for your product on a new platform. You can try using this service - StatCounter Global Stats.
As soon as you are sure, you may benefit in many aspects when you convert an Android app to iOS. Both mobile app platforms cover up to 95% (74.94% on Android,19.84% on iOS) of mobile devices available worldwide.
As a business owner you can get the following benefits from the conversion:
- Possibility to expand your market and gain new app users.
- Opportunity to add new functionality. The app conversion does not equal duplication, so with new platform specifics, it may be possible to enrich a product with new feature(s).
- Possibility to increase your ROI. It is a great opportunity to build new revenue streams for app monetization.
- Ability to reduce the discussion time with a development team. The communication process could be shortened since there is an already existing app (source code, designs, etc.) to check its specifics and logic.
A Notice on Online Android to iOS App Converter
Natively, it is impossible to run Android apps on iOS or vice versa due to the native components in the operating systems they each have. The app development process requires different programming languages, design interface, navigations, integrations, etc, in compliance with a particular OS. It is also impossible because of the following factors:
- Different lifecycle of apps in the system
- Different lifecycle of app screens within the app itself
- Different approaches to data access (e.g. iOS apps have been requesting access to data or device functions since the very beginning whereas, Android added it only recently with Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
The Android systems uses the instruction set of the Java virtual machine (JVM) called ByteCode, while iOS implements the compiled code.
Moreover, it is impossible to install applications that have not been authorized by the Apple Store.
It is misleading to be told to use some kind of service or program to transfer your app to another platform with just a few click few clicks. Online tools like an Android to iOS converter simply do not exist.
Converting an Android app to iOS means that a new app must be built from scratch, if not developed cross-platform initially. This requires hiring a development team with high capabilities in both platforms in order to match the app’s business requirements, logic, technical elements, and performance with the existing product.
Have a look through this article to find out all the details you need to know about the process of converting an iOS app to Android app and vice versa.
